Today’s NBA stars sign contracts worth hundreds of millions. They are celebrated with press conferences, jersey reveals, and brand deals. But ever wondered when and where it all began? It all started with quiet courage. On May 24, 1950, Nathaniel Clifton signed a simple piece of paper that broke one of the most important barriers in sports history. And the history? One of the toughest milestones. Nat Clifton became the first Black player to sign an NBA contract with the New York Knicks. All Knicks contract, like Carmelo Anthony’s since then, carries that legacy. And today marks the 75th anniversary of that legendary contract signing. Did you think that the NBA would let the day pass in silence?
No. Because they shook the internet with an amazing tribute post. The post contained a picture of Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton dunking. But was just being the first black player make him a celebrated figure? In the 1956–57 season, despite being in his mid-30s—an age when most players begin to slow down—Nathaniel Clifton averaged 30+ minutes with over 10 points per game in those days at 34. It also celebrated all the defining moments of Nat’s journey, as mentioned in the picture itself. Like “1957 NBA All-Star”, “Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014”. And the insightful caption simply revisited the history.
It read: “Today, the NBA celebrates the 75th Anniversary of Nat ‘Sweetwater’ Clifton becoming the first Black player to sign an NBA contract, joining the New York Knicks from the Harlem Globetrotters on May 24, 1950.” So, Nat, also called Sweetwater because of his love for Soda Pop, played for the Globetrotters before signing a contract with the NBA and the Knicks. Ever since then, all the legendary players who have joined the Knicks have echoed Nathaniel’s legacy.
Like back in the ’90s, Charles Oakley’s deal wasn’t just about basketball. It made him the heart and soul of Pat Riley’s physical Knicks teams. Then came Carmelo Anthony in 2011, whose blockbuster trade and max contract brought real star power back to MSG. It made him one of the franchise’s highest-paid icons.
Now, Jalen Brunson is famous for writing his chapter. A smart, impactful signing that’s helped revive the Knicks’ fortunes. From Clifton’s quiet barrier-breaking moment to Brunson’s current rise, each contract proves the same. One signature can change everything. The numbers get bigger, but the weight of that 1950 breakthrough will never, ever fade away.
Carmelo Anthony falls back on nostalgia for his old team on Nat’s day
Carmelo Anthony recently took fans back to the 2011 free agency period on his 7PM in Brooklyn podcast. He recalled how his path to New York unfolded. While all eyes were on LeBron James’ infamous “Decision” that formed Miami’s Big Three, Melo found himself at a career crossroads. “It was all eyes on him (LeBron) in New York at that point in time. Bron is making a decision. Chris Bosh is a free agent. D-Wade. Now they looking at me. ‘Melo, why you ain’t a free agent?’” He said.
But Carmelo Anthony was still a Nugget at the time, and he was content. “I’m still in Denver, though. I was loving Denver at this time. So I don’t want to leave. I ain’t about to be no free agent and leave.” But that changed when Denver’s front office blindsided him with rebuild plans. “They start the rebuild. But they don’t tell me, they tell him. They about to rebuild the roster.” So once Melo knew Denver was moving on, he made his position clear.
“I said, look, if y’all gonna rebuild, let’s work on this together and let’s get a place.” The Nuggets asked for his preferred destinations, and his answer was instant. “There’s only one place I want to go to, and that’s New York.” But the Knicks weren’t an easy sell for Denver’s front office. Their preference was Utah. But Carmelo Anthony said, “It was Lakers or it was the Knicks,”. His desire for New York only grew stronger after hearing Amar’e Stoudemire’s pitch about their potential together.
Sitting beside STAT during the podcast, Carmelo Anthony shared their old vision. “Me, you, Ray Felton. We wanted to do this since high school. We got a chance to do this in New York. That was our connection.” The trade finally happened, and Carmelo Anthony gave the Knicks seven memorable seasons. Though his arrival was overshadowed by LeBron’s story, Melo’s Knicks tenure left a lasting mark. He’s still loved at MSG and embraced by fans as one of New York’s own.
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